Part 1. The Joker Chapter 107 – Forsyth

　　”Writer?” Audrey asked in a seemingly casual manner as she observed Grelint’s reaction.

　　The next belonged to the normal topic of conversation, and she did not avoid Anne, the personal maid who followed beside her.

　　Grelint straightened his body and laughed:

　　”Yes, I think you should have read her work, the widely praised ‘Stormy Mountain’ in the last two months.”

　　”I love the book, and I especially love the calm Ms. Sissy.” Audrey replied with a light smile.

　　At the same time, she mentally rolled her eyes at her own hypocrisy.

　　This was because her hobby lately wasn’t fiction at all, and the reading progress of Stormy Mountain had been stagnant at a third of the way through for close to a month.

　　Ever since joining the Tarot Society, meeting the mighty Fool, and becoming truly extraordinary, she had been integrating the mystical knowledge she had learned about herself, systematically studying the psychological aspects of the subject, and lacking sufficient interest in anything else.

　　Viscount Grelint said with a big smile as he led Audrey towards the living room furnished with sofas:

　　”Then I am sure you will have a good impression of Lady Forsyth-Wall, for she is just as calm, intelligent, and languid as Lady Cicely in Stormhill.”

　　”And, my dear Miss Audrey, is she going to play the piano for us later, which is the best compliment that can be paid to literature, to fiction.”

　　Audrey looked at the side of Grelint’s face, sensing in his expression, tone, and certain body movements that the other man wanted to show off.

　　He wants me to be the capital of his bragging …… Audrey thought as if she knew this close friend for the first time.

　　She kept her elegant smile and said:

　　”My music teacher, the pianist Mr. Vicinal, thinks that my standards have dropped significantly lately and that I need more practice.”

　　”Okay.” Grelint was about to say something when he suddenly saw a lady who had gone to her place at the long table to get dessert, “Audrey, this is Ms. Forsyth Vole, the author of Stormy Mountain.”

　　Audrey raised her eyes and saw that that Ms. Folth was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, six-foot-five, and she was wearing a beige, ruffled, stand-up collar dress, her brunette hair was draped in slight curls, and her light-blue eyes turned because of Grayling’s introduction with a few smiles that seemed to be teasing and playful.

　　It took no more than three seconds of observation for Audrey to notice many small details:

　　”Ms. Forsyth’s fingers show signs of smoky yellowing …… She likes to roll cigarettes ……”

　　”The grip on the pen is noticeably calloused, in keeping with the author ……”

　　”Her arm movements indicate that she possesses decent strength, which is not a trait that a writer should possess unless she loves to exercise, or was born that way, or has worked in another profession ……”

　　”Her Stormy Mountain presents a calm, sensible and precise style, which should have some relevance to her former profession ……”

　　”Her eyes and expression are relaxed now, and there is a feeling that she is looking down on me and Granlint, is this a psychological advantage that extraordinary people have over ordinary people?”

　　”If she was stumbled upon by Granlint’s discovery of the Extraordinary Person’s identity, then she would definitely have some feelings of consternation and uneasiness, after all, it’s impossible to guess the other party’s reaction and subsequent development, and the unknown will bring fear.”

　　”…… This suggests that it was she who took the initiative to contact Greylint and had prior knowledge of our hobbies, and had some certainty about what would follow ……”

　　”Why would an Extraordinary initiate contact with Graylint? In need of monetary assistance, or transcendental materials hidden in a treasure trove? Or there is a certain thing he wants help with ……”

　　At this time, Greylint was introducing herself to Voorhees:

　　”Ma’am, this is the Miss Audrey I mentioned, she is the brightest jewel of Birkeland, her father is the Earl of Hall, a member of the House of Lords who is highly trusted by the King and highly respected by the nobles.”

　　”Good afternoon, Lady Forsyth, your copy of Stormy Mountain is still at my bedside.” Audrey bowed in strict accordance with the rules of nobility.

　　Then, she silently added in her mind, That’s because I haven’t finished it after a month of reading ……

　　Forsyth simply returned the salute:

　　”Good afternoon, Miss Audrey, your beauty really impresses me, I think I already have the material for my next novel, hehe, Viscount Grelint also praised you for your outstanding musical talent.”

　　In front of a large crowd, both parties only exchanged pleasantries and did not talk much about anything else.

　　Witnessing Forsyth continue to walk towards the dining table, aiming straight for a small cake coated with cream, Audrey withdrew her gaze and followed Grelint to the living room.

　　She recalled all the details of what she had just seen, trying to accurately grasp the other party’s thoughts so as to win the initiative for the subsequent contact.

　　Taking a step forward, Audrey, who was as cool as a neutral spectator, stepped on the hem of a draped skirt, and her body swayed, nearly falling.

　　Right at this moment, the personal maid Anne was prepared to hold her up, saving her good image.

　　”Miss, the unique design of this dress requires you not to walk too fast.” Annie came to Audrey’s ear and lowered her voice to remind her.

　　”I know.” Audrey replied with a nod as her cheeks flushed.

　　I was just so focused on watching the others that I forgot to pay attention to my feet …… she complained inwardly in aggravation.

　　In the salon afterward, Audrey maintained a graceful and sweet smile in the face of the attentive writers, critics, and musicians.

　　At last the muscles of her cheeks, which were beginning to ache, took the hint from Viscount Grelint.

　　After waiting a few minutes, she lifted the hem of her skirt under the pretext of going to the lavatory, stood up slowly, and left the salon.

　　After making sure that no more eyes were chasing her, she circled around to her study, located on the first floor, and addressed her personal maid, Anne:

　　”I have something I need to discuss with Grelint, so guard the door and keep the others out.”

　　”Okay.” Anne did not feel strange, because she knew that her own young lady and Viscount Grelint shared the same hobby, and often exchanged occult matters in private.

　　Entering the study and unlocking the door, Audrey saw that Grelint was sitting behind the desk, playing with a fountain pen, while Folth-Wall stood in front of the bookshelf, casually flipping through the collection of books.

　　”Reintroducing myself, Ms. Voorhees, a truly remarkable person.” Grelint set his fountain pen down and greeted him.

　　”Yes?” Audrey deliberately showed her skepticism.

　　Voorhees tucked the books back into their original position and quirked a smile:

　　”Looks like I need to prove myself.”

　　She walked slowly to the door, extended her right palm, and pressed it against the knob.

　　Suddenly, Audrey’s eyes blinked, and she seemed to see Ms. Forsyth turn into a phantom and penetrate the door.

　　Horrified, she stared and looked again, realizing that Voorhees was no longer in the same place.

　　A few seconds later, the handle was turned, and the door of the unlocked room was opened directly, and Foerth Wall walked in from outside with a smile on her face, while the maid Anne, who was guarding the doorway not far from the doorway, did not notice what was happening behind her back in the slightest.

　　”This is really a magical ability.” Grelint exclaimed in admiration.

　　Audrey took a light breath and said:

　　”I have no more doubts.”

　　At the same time, the ability that Voorhees had demonstrated confirmed to her what the other party was really thinking, for neither money, nor materials could be difficult to defeat such an extraordinary person.

　　There’s no extraordinary person guarding Grelint’s house …… Is Voorhees hoping to accomplish something by using my and Grelint’s identities and resources? Audrey tried to look like an audience member.

　　Folth said with two low chuckles:

　　”Let’s talk frankly, there isn’t much time left for us.”

　　”I used to be a clinician and became an Extraordinary by some chance, over two years ago today.”

　　”I want you to help me with one thing, and the reward I give is to lead you into the circle of true Extraordinary Ones and sell you the formulas of certain Sequential Magic Pills and the corresponding materials.”

　　Hearing such a promise, Greylint couldn’t wait to ask:

　　”What is it?”

　　”I have a companion who has been imprisoned and is awaiting her final judgment, I hope that you will be able to save her, no matter what means you use.” Voorhees described succinctly.

　　Audrey frowned slightly:

　　”Ms. Folth, your demonstrated abilities should be well suited for such a thing ……”

　　Folth shook his head and laughed:

　　”No, not really, I can get through where she can’t, and I can only go in to check on her and talk to her a little more often.”

　　”And I don’t think it’s a good idea to risk a rescue, life is short enough as it is and there’s so much more that needs to be done.”

　　Audrey asked with deliberation, observing the other woman’s face and limbs:

　　”I see. For what offense was that companion of yours imprisoned?”

　　Forsyth’s expression was instantly a little embarrassed:

　　”My companion is actually very respectable and makes people want to obey from the bottom of their hearts, her character is noble and kind, well, uh, she just took a little too aggressive an approach when she was convincing some villain ……”

　　……

　　After delegating the task, Klein kept his schedule of occult in the morning and combat practice in the afternoon, so regular that he almost forgot he was a night watchman, and the “curse” of frequent encounters with extraordinary events seemed to have disappeared.

　　Saturday came, and it was his turn to man the Charnis Gate.

　　”Feel free to enjoy the coffee I left here and the black tea in the clerical office.” Dunn said as he swept the duty room with his dark gray eyes.

　　Klein, who had already made up a reason to explain this to his brother and sister ahead of time, nodded gleefully:

　　”Yes, Captain, you are a generous gentleman.”

　　Dunn grinned:

　　”It helps you relax mentally, too much tightness is not good for your health.”

　　He took his hat and carried his cane as he walked slowly toward the door.

　　When he was almost out, he turned suddenly and said:

　　”I forgot to remind you not to open the Charniss door, no matter what you hear, unless it is opened from the inside.”

　　”Remember, no matter what sounds are heard, no matter what happens.”

　　Captain, I’ll be afraid if you say that …… Klein’s spirits tensed for a moment, only to realize that the dimness of the earth trumped the glow of the elegant gas lamps.